I am not that much concerned about security. I am living in the DR since 20 years and know my way around mostly.

There are many other reasons I would like to stay away as far as possible from barrios (noise (!!!), "production of mosquitos", motos etc., vendedores ambulantes (I hate this a**hole (no pun) selling toilet paper - "hay papeles" - that walks the nearby barrio (Manganagua - we live one corner from the "border" to it in Los Restauradores) here every afternoon for example ).

I am perfectly fine with the rented PH we live in. I am planning ahead, we want to buy in the future and when I buy it has to be as much as close to perfect as possible for us and that means as far away from any barrio but as close to the center as possible.

I know it is not an easy task.

You know what you want, and know the area ; the rest is settlement strategy.
I may be in rural elCampo but the same applies here.
Same brand of Bandidos, Music (noise), moto's and interference with a tranquil life.

I am undecided if it will be a PH (easier to find close to the center) or a house with garden for the kids which I am starting to prefer if buying.

Colinas has some very strict rules that have to be followed if you buy land there. No sitting on a lot or building 100 blocks at a time once a month. When you buy, plans have to be approved ahead of time, construction has to start AND finish within a set period of time with daily fines if you don't comply.

Once you visit and see the level of housing being built there, you'll see what I mean. There are lots of expensive homes there, and what is under construction is active. (with the exception of one or two old constructions)

Myself, I am a "house with a yard" kind of guy, and they are getting harder and harder to find in good condition.

I have bought and flipped a few and made excellent profit doing it, but I may have done my last one. I keep looking though. There are diamonds in the rough to be found.